Starter for engines.



V. BENDIX.

STARTER FOR ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 11, 1913.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1913- 1,1 1 6,369, Patented NOV. 10, 1914 2 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

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. m a Z 7 h I VINCENT BENDIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STARTER FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 11, 1913.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VINCENT BENDIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters for Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to a starter for a gas engine and the like and the object thereof is to provide a simple, reliable and efficient automatic device of this character comprising a new mechanical movement.

Speaking in general terms my starter comprises a motor of any type, such as an electric motor, capable of operating a rotatable driving member, such as a pinion, adapted to cooperate with a member, such as the usual fly wheel,'operatively connected with the engine, the driving member or pinion being arranged to be automatically advanced into cooperative position with the engine wheel when the motor is operated and to be automatically withdrawn therefrom when the engine has started on its own power. The pinion is mounted upon a rotatable shaft driven directly or indirectly by the motor and adapted to travel longitudinally of such shaft for said automatic advancement thereof into cooperative relationship with the engine wheel and for said automatic withdrawal therefrom and also adapted to rotate with such shaft when it is in such driving relation with the engine wlleel.

The gist of the present invention consists broadly in providing a weighted driving member, such as a pinion, the weighting being accomplished in any desired manner, with the result that when the shaft is rotated the pinion is caused to travel longitudinally thereof and rotary movement therewith at such time prevented.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of my invention with indirect drive for the pinion shaft; Fig. 2 a similar View but illustrating a direct drive for such shaft; Fig. 3 a sectional detail of main parts of my device illustrat ing one means of weighting the pinion: Fig. 1- an end elevation of the pinion of Fig. 3: Fig. 5 an end elevation of a modified form of pinion; Fig. (3 a section on the'line 6-fi of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 an end elevation of another modified form of pinion; Fig. 8 a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a sectional Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 800,325.

elevation similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating another modified form of pinion and also illustrating another form of stop for the inward movement of the pinion; and Fig. 10

on the line 12-12-of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 a sectional elevation of a'pinion and shaft illustrating a different. form of outer stop; Fig. 14 a section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 a detail view of a modified form of stop; Fig. 16 an elevation of a clutch device as a substitute for the pinion; and F ig. 17 a longitudinal section of the parts of Fig. 16.

In the present instance and by preference 'the motor is an electric motor, the driving member is a pinion, and the engine member or wheel driven by the engine is the fly wheel thereof, although it will be understood that my invention in its broader aspect is not to be limited to such motor, pinion or fly wheel but that other kinds of motors and driving connections may be employed and also that the wheel which is operatively connected with the engine and which is to be driven by the starting device may be any wheel connected directly with the engine, as in the case of the fly wheel, or connected indirectly therewith so that the movements of the motor and its driving member will start the engine into operation. It will also be understood that the rotatable shaft on which the driving member or pinion is mounted may be driven either directly or indirectly by the motor, that is to say, such shaft may be either the arinature shaft extended or coupled in alinement therewith or may be an entirely separate shaft, that is a countershaft,1driven by gearing from the armature shaft. In the present instance I have shown both the direct and the indirect my invention as herein shown, the engine wheel which is here shown as the fly wheel 1 is provided on its peri hery with a circular v 'rack or gear teeth 2 of the spur type.

motor comprises an electric motor 3 having.

The

an armature shaft 4: to Whose outer end is secured a pinion 5. The motor is mounted at one end in a housing which is secured to any fixed part of the automobile or other structure with which this device is associated and which here comprises three sections 6, 7 and 8 all secured together by bolting or otherwise. l/Vithin this housing and in a plane intersecting the axis of the fly wheel is mounted a rotatable shaft 9, such shaft being journaled at its ends in bearing provided in the sections 6 and 8 of the housing. Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3,-this shaft is provided at its inner end with a gear 10 secured thereon by the key 11 and meshing with the armature pinion 5. The shaft 9 is screw-threaded at its intermediate portion and on this portion is mounted the driving pinion 12 which has a screw-threaded central opening coacting with the screw threads of the shaft. The construction just described constitutes the indirect drive arrangement between the motor and screw shaft. The construction shown in Fig. 2 constitutes the direct drive,

the corresponding parts being similarly marked by reference numerals.

in this instance, the screw shaft '9" is coupled directly to the armature shaft 4 in suitable manner,

- as by means of the pin or key 4* so that the screw shaft is driven direct by the motor. The housing is here shown in two sections 6 and 8, the former supporting one endof the motor and the other providing a journal for the outer end of the screw shaft.

.TllQ construction and arrangement of the parts thus far described are such that when the motor is operated the screw shaft is rotated. As an incident to such rotation and in an entirely automatic manner, the pinion 12 travels outwardly longitudinally of its shaft and into mesh with the gear teeth 2 of the fly wheel. When the pinion has reached its outward limit of longitudinal movement and is stopped by contact with the shoulder or collar 9- on the. shaft or by the stop members hereinafter described, it will rotate with its shaft and thereby drive the fly wheel. When the engine has been started and is operating 'on its own power, the fly wheel will be operated at a faster speed than when driven by the pinion with the result that the pinion will be'automati call; withdrawn from mesh with the fly wheel and moved longitudinally along. the screw shaft to its normal inward position, such pinion being stopped in this position preferably by stop members hereinafter described.

The purpose of my present invention is niieeee to provide a pinion which will at all times and under all conditions operate in the manner described and without any possibility of rotation with its shaftat a time ivhen it should be traveling longitudinally thereof and until in mesh with the driven memher or fly wheel. To this end, I weight the pinion and thereby supplement the inertia thereof and make its desired action positive. In the drawings, I have illustrated several different ways of making a weighted pinion.

Referring to the form of weighted pinion shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 4, the pinion 12- has at one end a central boss l2 over which fits one end of a plate 13, such plate having at one end, which is normally its upper end, an opening of a size to fit closely upon said boss. This plate is removably secured to the pinion in suitable manner, in the present instanceby means of the screw 14 passing through the plate and into the body of the pinion. Theplate depends below the axis of thepinion, that is, it is arranged on one side only of such axis so as to .overbalance the pinion. The plate may be made of any desired material and of any desired size although when made of steel as in present practice they may have the relative promy in manufacture, yet if desired, this pinion and its plate or weight may be made integral. It will be understood that the presence of this weight compels the pinion to travel longitudinally on its shaft when the latter is rotated until itis in mesh with the engine member or flywheel, as well as subsequently when automatically caused to travel longitudinally to its home position.

In Figs. 5 and 6,1 have shown a modified form of weighted pinion according to which the pinion 15 is made lighter on one side of its axis than on its opposite sides by boring holes 15 therethrough. According to the modification illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, I accomplish the same result by providing a pinion 16 which has on the lower side of its axis a series of plugs 17 of lead or other material heavier than the material of the pinion. These plugs are inserted in trans verse openings on one side of the pinion, although it is obvious that such material may be otherwise applied thereto.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown another modified form of weighted pinion according to which the pinion 18 is provided, on what is its lower side when idle or while traveling longitudinally, with an extended portion 18 projecting from one end thereof and substantially semi-circular in shape.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown still another modification according to which the weight 19, which is of substantially the same shape as the weight portion 18, is

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made separate from its pinion 20 and secured thereto by the screw 21.

stop the pinion at its extreme travels without causing any binding and a consequent interference with its longitudinal movements along its shaft.

Describing the means for stopping the inward travel of the pinion and referring to the specific construction of; Figs. 1, 3 and 4 without intention of limitation thereto, the screw shaft 9 is provided near the inner end of its screw portion with a laterally projecting pin 22 which is positioned in the groove of the screw thread in osition to be contacted by the shoulder 23 formed in the inner end of the pinion at the end of the thread thereof. When the pinion has reached the desired extent of its inward or home position it will be stopped by the contact between the pin 22 and the shoulder 23. It will be noted-that the two stops engage each other positively along a line or point of Contact which is in a plane parallel with the axis of the pinion and its shaft. This is in contrad'istinction to such a contact or en-} gagenient of parts such as would be represented by the contact of the inner face of the pinion itself with the outer face of the gear 10 for instance, which contact or engagement would be frictional and would be liable to cause such a binding between the pinion and the gear as to prevent the proper operation of the pinion, that is its longitudinal travel outwardly, when the motor is operated. The positive steps described do not have any such frictional or binding engagement inasmuch as they prevent any contact between the pinion or rather its weight 13 and the gear 10 when the indirect drive is used or between such pinion and the end of the screw threads on the screw shaft in case such. threads do not terminate abruptly.

The steps for the inward travel of the pinion may partake of other forms, two of which I have illustrated in the drawings. In Fig. 9 I have shown a pin 24 secured to the screw shaft 9 and extending at right angles to *the longitudinal axis thereof at a point near the end of the screw threads of the shaft and in a position to becontacted by a pin 25 extending laterally from the inner face of the pinion 18 or rather of the weight portion 18? thereof. In Fig. 9-l

have shown the home position of the pinion 1n dotted lines at which time the stop pin 24 has been contacted by the pin 25. It will be understood that in this case, as was the case of the first described stops, such steps may be employed in connection with. either a direct or indirect driven screw shaft and that consequently such stop mechanism does not require that the gear 10, such as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 9, shall be employed, although shown "associated.

In Fi 15 I have shown still another form of inner stops comprising a stop pin 26 projecting from the outer face of the ear lO'and another step pin :27 projecting from the inner face of the pinion or rather of the weight 13. It will be understood that when the pinion ,is in its normal or home position the two steps 26 and 27 will be in contact and consequently such pinion will be stopped and prevented from coming into contact with the gear 10.-

Referring to the means for stopping the outward travel of the pinion, this is accomplished, according to Figs. 1, 3 and 9, by the collar 9 itself and although there may be the same frictional engagement between the pinion and collar, it is not suflicicnt to pre vent the proper inward travel of the pinion along the screw shaft, owing to the fact that the driving action thereon of the fly wheel is sufficiently powerful to overcome such engagement. However, if desired, especially when the screw threads of the. shaft 9 are steep enough to cause considerable frictional engagement of the pinion with .the collar 9, I employ stops of the same general character as those employed in respect to the inward travel of the pinion. In the present instance (referring to Figs. 13 and 14), the threads of the screw shaft are provided near the outer end with a stop pin 28 which is in position to be contacted by the abrupt shoulder 29 formed at the outer end of the thread of the pinion. This contact takes place when the pinion has reached the end of its outward travel, that is, when it is in full mesh with the fly wheel, and without coming into contact with the collar 9 of the screw shaft.

The driving member which is mounted upon and cooperates with the screw shaft need not be a pinion but may be any member capable of acting as described and of transmitting the motion to the engine. For instance, in Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown such a modified driving member which is in the form of a clutch comprising a body portion 30, screw threaded upon the screw shaft 31 and having a clutch face 32, adapted and arranged to coiipcrate with a corresponding clutch face 33 on the inner side of a wheel 34 which is here a sprocket wheel. This wheel is secured to its shaft in suitable manncr as by the key 36 and such shaft is in axial alinement with the screw shaft 31, the two shafts having bearing in each other at their meeting ends. The sprocket All:

wheel is held in place longitudinally by the collar 37 on one side and the annular s oulder 38 on the other side as a part of the screw shaft.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the direct drive between the motor and the shaft, as hereinbefore referred to, and in addition 1 have shown means for clutch engagement between the pinion 12.and the screw shaft 9' 10 when the pinion is at its outward limit of longitudinal movement and in mesh with the engine member or fly wheel. According to this construction the screw shaft is formed or provided with a clutch disk 39 with its left hand face (Fig. 2) provided with clutch jaws. The outer side, that is the right hand side of the pinion 12, is provided with corresponding clutch jaws l0 which are adapted to be engaged by the other clutch jaws zo whcn the pinionis in mesh with the fly wheel and ready to be rotated by the screw shaft.

Describing the operation of my starter, it will be assumed that the pinion is in its normal or retracted position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. lVhen the motor is started into operation by the operator the screw shaft will be rotated and the pinion will be caused to move longitudinally thereso of into mesh with the engine wheel or fly wheel. \Vhen the pinion has reached the end of its outward travel, being limited by the shoulder 9 or the stop 28 or the clutch jaws 39, according to the construction of Figs. 1, 13 and 2, respectively, it is fully in mesh with such fly wheel, whereupon it will rotate in unison with the screw shaft and will consequently drive or rotate the fly wheel. Owing to its weighted character,

the pinion will travel longitudinally in the manner explained under all conditions of practice whenever the screw shaft is rotated, so that the action of the device is positive and certain. The pinion continues to drive the fly wheel until the engine starts under its f own power from its explosions, whereupon "owing to the faster rate of rotation of the pinion by the fly wheel as compared with its rotation by the screw shaft, such pinion will be automatically withdrawn from mesh with the fly wheel and will be caused to travel longitudinally thereof and inwardly until the two inner stops abut each other. By reason of these stops it is impossible for the inner face of the weight 13 to come into contact with the gear 0 or the end of the threads (if not made abruptly) so as to be cramped and cause any frictional engagement or binding between these two parts.

The pinion is now in normal position having completed a full cycle of operation.

It is found in actual practice -that, after the engine has started car-its own power and the pinion has been automatically withdrawn from mesh as stated, the pinion does not; immediately travel longitudinally to its inner position, but will pause in its longitu-.

such shaft slows down, the pinion will then move toward its inner position because its momentum will exceed that of the shaft which is of course subjected to much drag. This pausing of the pinion is due to a binding action between the shaft and the pinion caused by centrifugal force of the weight and the fact that such weight is not centered on the pinion but located at one en thereof thereby causing a binding on the shaft. By this action, a too rapid travel and forcible return of the pinion are prevented inasmuch as tltc final return of such pinion takes place after the momentum has been considerably decreased during said pause in its longitudinal travel.

I do not herein claim the stop device hereinbefore described but have made the same the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me on August 10, 1914, serial No. 856,055.

I claim:

1. A starter for engines comprising, in combination-with a member operatively con nected with the engine, a driving member adapted to cooperate with and drive the other member but normally out of engagement therewith, and a rotatable member with which said driving member coacts to produce longitudinal travel relative to the rotatable member for automatically moving such driving member into driving engagement with the engine member whenever the shaft is rotated, said driving member being weighted to prevent rotary movement with the rotatable member during the time for said longitudinal travel thereon.-

2. A starter for engines comprising, in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby and a driving member adapt- .cd to engage and drive the engine member and mounted upon and having screwthreaded engagement with said shaft whereby rotation of the shaft advances such driving member into engagement with ithe engine member, said driving member being weighted to prevent rotary movement there of with the shaft during the time for its said longitudinal travel thereon.

3. A starter for engines comprising, in combination with a member operatively connccted with the engine, a niotorfa shaft driven thereby and having a screw-threaded portion, and a pinion screw-threaded on said shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and into engagement with the engine-member when the shaft is rotated, said pinion being weighted to prevent its rotary movement with the shaft during the time for its Saidlongitudinal travel thereon.

4. A starter for engines comprising, in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby and having a screw-thrcadec. portion, and a pinion screw-threaded on said shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and into engagement with the engine member when the shaft is rotated, said pinion having a weight depending on one side of its axis to over-balance it and thereby prevent its rotary movement with the shaft during the time for its said longi tudinal. travel thereon.

5. A starter for engines comprising, in combination with a member operatively con nected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby and having a screw-threaded portion, a pinion screw'threaded on said shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and into engagen'ient with the engine member when the shaft is rotated, and a weight attached to said pinion and arranged on one side of its axis to overbalance it and thereby prevent its rotary movement with the shaft during the time for its said longitudinal travel thereon.

6. A starter for engines comprising, in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby and having a screw-threaded portion, a pinion screw-threaded on said shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and into engagement with the engine member when the shaft is rotated, and a weight separate from but removably attached to said pinion and arranged on one a balanee it and thereby prevent its rotary side of its axis to over-balance it and there- -driven thereby,

movement with the shaft during the time for its said longitudlnal travel thereon.

S. A starter for engines comprlsmg, in

combination with a member ope 'atively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby and having a screw-threaded portion, a pinion screw-threaded on said shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and into engagement with the engine member when the shaft is rotated, said pinion having a central projecting boss at one end, and a weight in the form of a plate provided at one end with an opening to receive the boss and depending below the axis of the pinion to over-balance it and thereby prevent its rotary movement with the shaft during the time for its said longitudinal travel thereon.

. 9. A starter for engines comprising, in

combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a shaft and a driving member mounted to rotate with the shaft and to travel longitudinally thereof, and adapted to engage the engine member to drive it and to be automatically disengaged therefrom when the engine operates on its own power, said driving member being weighted to cause a rotary movement of such driving member with the shaft after said disengagement and a final longitudinal movement on the shaft.

10. A starter for engines comprising, in

combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a screw shaft driven thereby, a pinion mounted on the shaft to rotate-with it and to also travel longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage and drive the engine member and to be automatically disengaged therefrom when the engine operates on its own power, said pinion being weighted at one end to cause a binding thereof on the shaft and consequent rotation thereof with the shaft 5 just after said disengagement of the pinion and engine member.

VINCENT BENDIX.

\Vitnesses:

S. E. HmnEN, Ronnn'r DoBBnn AN. 

